Russian court rejects Pussy Riot member parole bid

PERM, Russia (AP) — A Russian court has turned down an appeal by a member of Pussy Riot against a previous court ruling that denied her an early release.

Maria Alekhina has served a year and a half out of her two-year prison sentence and was appealing for parole. Along with two other band members, Alekhina was convicted of hooliganism following Pussy Riot’s punk performance against President Vladimir Putin in Moscow’s main cathedral last year.

Alekhina was transferred from the prison where she was serving her sentence to another one close to the city where the court rejected her appeal on Wednesday. She was not allowed to take part in the proceedings in person, but was allowed to speak on video-link.